Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The discussion to which Deputy Moynihan refers will be a lunchtime discussion of the type which almost always occurs following a Council of Ministers meeting and focuses on a particular subject. In this particular instance, the subject is that of Internet governance. In my view, we are a long way from being able to define trans-European law on the issue of Internet governance. We have an Internet content governance advisory council chaired by Dr. Brian O'Neill of the Dublin Institute of Technology, the report of which is due to be submitted this month. That report will be published. Up to now, it has been the disposition of Europe to leave this to domestic sovereign law. However, as the Deputy said there are issues that arise that are common to pretty much every country in the world. The advisory group, which comprises a number of specialists under the chairmanship of Dr. Brian O'Neill, is the first place to which I would look for new guidance on this issue. It has the repository of knowledge and experience required and understands the international literature and European experience.

I will publish the report. I do not have the freedom to say that he and the group may be willing to present to this committee but I suspect because the man has been so generous with his time and in doing this job pro bono- it is his field - he may be willing to do so. That might be helpful after the committee gets a chance to read his report. As Deputy Moynihan has stated, apart from the issues of concern to the European Union, there are more local and domestic matters related to the question, which concerns parents, teachers and others.